Character Word of the Week

Communication — Taming the Tongue
Character WOW
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” ~ Proverbs 18:21
As God’s children, we have been created with the unique capacity to communicate with words — and with our words we have the power to bless and build up or curse and tear down!  The problem we face is the heart—tongue connection.  Imagine a conveyor belt connecting the heart and the tongue.  Everything that is in your heart eventually comes out your mouth in the things you say.  Why?  Because the heart and the tongue are connected with a spiritual conveyor belt.  

Jesus taught us that a good tree produces good fruit.  In Luke 6:45 (NLT), He said, “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.”  The book of James adds, “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” (James 3:16)  So what can we do?
How can I tame my tongue?

1. Submit your heart and your speech to the Lord (James 4:7-8).
2. Resist the temptation to curse or use rude or offensive language (Ephesians 4:29)
3. Seek to bless others with your words (Proverbs 18:21)
4. Set a good example for others to follow in word and deed (Titus 2:7-8)

  
My Declaration: As a child of God, I will submit my speech to the Lord seeking to bless others with the words I choose!
​Bible story: The High Priestly Blessing (Numbers 6:24-26)
Quote: “If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” ~ George Washington